Justice Obiora Egwatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed March 25 for a hearing in a suit filed by Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, against the Nigerian Senate.

Natasha had approached the Federal High Court, seeking an order restraining the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges from investigating her.

The court granted the order, but the Senate on Thursday proceeded to suspend the senator for six months.

At the hearing of the matter on Monday, counsels to the first, second, and third defendants told the court that they had not been served with Natasha’s court papers.

However, Natasha’s counsel, Michael Numa, SAN, said all parties have been served, adding that affidavits of service were before the court.

After going through the affidavits of service before the court, Justice Egwatu confirmed service of all processes on all respondents.

At this point, counsel to the third respondent, the Senate President, Kehinde Ogunwumiju SAN, prayed to the court for an adjournment for all processes to be harmonized.

Other counsel supported the move because it would facilitate an accelerated hearing at the next adjourned date.

In his ruling, Justice Egwatu adjourned the matter to March 25th, 2025, and ordered that all the relevant processes be served on parties before the adjourned date.

Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Victor Nwaebonyi, while speaking on the outcome of the proceeding, admitted that in legal proceedings service was important.

Nwaebonyi added that it is only when parties are properly served that they will study the matter and respond accordingly.

He admitted that it is strange for the court to interfere in the affairs of the Senate, noting that the Senate only answered the call of the court being a responsible and law-abiding institution.